Thursday, November 5, 2015

Launch of Education 2030 Framework for Action

The global education community adopts and launches Education 2030 Framework for Action
Paris, 4 November—The Education 2030 Framework for Action (FFA) was adopted and launched at a high-level meeting, held alongside the 38th UNESCO General Conference at the Organization’s Headquarters on 4 November.
“Today, with the Education 2030 Framework for Action, Governments from across the world have agreed on how to translate a promise on paper to change on the ground,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova at the launch event.
The Education 2030 Framework for Action was adopted by more than 70 Ministers, representatives of Member States, the United Nations, multilateral and bi-lateral agencies, civil society, regional organizations, the teaching profession, academia, youth and the private sector.
Ministers and Heads of Delegation took the floor throughout a day-long meeting, which will end with closing addresses by Kishore Singh, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, and the Prime Minister of Cook Islands, Mr Henry Puna.
The FFA, the result of an unprecedented consultative process, provides guidance to countries for the implementation of the Education 2030 agenda. It aims to mobilize all stakeholders around the new global education goal and targets, and proposes ways of implementing, coordinating, financing and reviewing the 2030 education agenda—globally, regionally and nationally—to guarantee equal educational opportunity for all.
“Never before has the world consulted in such depth on a new goal in education, bringing all voices to the table. Never before has the world agreed on such a detailed road-map for the implementation of a new goal,” said the Director-General.
Addressing the opening session of today’s event, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, France’s Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research, said that her country endorsed the four principles of the Agenda: the right to free and compulsory quality education; the affirmation that education is a public responsibility; the need to give adults lifelong learning opportunities; and the priority given to gender equality.
“The conviction guiding our policy is that inequality is not a matter of fate. We have the responsibility to act to ensure that students’ background does not determine their educational prospects and future opportunities.” She also emphasized the importance of education for global citizenship, referring to the fundamental role of schools in countering extremism and promoting values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination.
The essential elements of the FFA were agreed upon at the World Education Forum in Incheon, Republic of Korea, in May this year. The resulting Incheon Declaration represents the firm commitment of countries and the global education community to a single, education agenda—Education 2030—that is holistic, ambitious, inclusive and aspirational. The Declaration entrusts UNESCO, as the United Nations’ specialized agency for education, to continue its mandated role to lead and coordinate the Education 2030 agenda.
“The Education 2030 Framework sets bold benchmarks…This calls for new funding, to bridge the annual US$ 40 billion funding gap, to invest where needs are most acute. We need every country to meet the target of allotting six percent of Gross Domestic Product to education,” said Ms Bokova “We need to reach the overall goal of directing 0.7 per cent of all Official Development Assistance to education. To leave no one behind, we need more investment and smarter investment, backed by stronger policies.”
The event is organized by UNESCO jointly with the co-convenors of Education 2030—the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Populations Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and the World Bank. During the event, it was announced that the International Labour Organization would become the eighth convenor of Education 2030.

Ashok Leyland- Results for Q2 FY 2015-16

Ashok Leyland- Results for Q2 FY 2015-16

Q2 revenue grows 54%, EBITDA up 260%
H1 revenue grows 54%, EBITDA up 298%

Chennai, November 4, 2015: Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group, registered healthy growth for the second quarter and first half-year of FY 2015-16.
Results for Q2 FY 2015-16:
–          Revenues increased 53.5% to Rs. 4,940 Cr, against Rs. 3,218 Cr, same period last year
–          Net profit stood at Rs. 287 Cr, against Rs. 121 Cr, same period last year
–          EBITDA was Rs. 594 Cr (12.0% of total revenue), against Rs. 229 crores (7.1% of total revenue), same period last year
–          Sales volume in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&HCV) stood at 29884 Nos (18207 nos)
–          Volume for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) was 7497 Nos (7172 nos)
–           
Results for H1 FY 2015-16:
–          Revenue increased 54% to Rs. 8,781 Cr, against Rs. 5,695 Cr, same period last year.
–          Net profit stood at Rs. 446 Cr against Rs. 73 Cr, same period last year.
–          EBITDA was Rs. 983 Cr (11.2% of total revenue), against Rs. 329 Cr (5.8% of total revenue), same period last year.
–          Sales volume in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&HCV) stood at 51337 Nos (33115 nos)
–          Volume for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) was 14198 Nos (12204 nos)
Speaking on the results, Mr. Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, said: “The market for commercial vehicles is back after a long period of downturn. Our brand commitment of ‘Aapki Jeet, Hamari Jeet’, or ‘In your success lies our success’, ensures that we are always customer focused – from product design, to network growth, and service capability. This relentless focus on customer profitability is the primary reason behind the good results. A continued focus on cost control and reigning-in of discounts also helped”.

Statement from Volkswagen Group India

Pune/Mumbai, November 04, 2015: Volkswagen Group India representatives had met Government of India – Ministry of Heavy Industries and ARAI on 29th October 2015. It was agreed with the Government of India that Volkswagen Group India will present its results from the evaluations regarding the diesel engine emissions topic by the end of November 2015. The next steps would depend on the findings from these evaluations. Volkswagen Group India confirms that it has received a notice from ARAI and will respond to the same by 30th November 2015. Volkswagen Group India will continue to fully co-operate with the Government of India in this matter. Volkswagen Group India Communications Contact: Hermann Prax / Adhish Alawani Phone: +91-8554997356 / +91-7875557435 E-Mail: hermann.prax@volkswagen.co.in / adhish.alawani@volkswagen.co.in

Naresh — nothing makes her face light up like getting to spend time with her supporters.

I spend a lot of time on the road with Hillary, so I can tell you firsthand, Naresh — nothing makes her face light up like getting to spend time with her supporters. People like you who are giving your time and energy to this campaign mean so much to her, and I know she wishes she could tell you that in person.
She’s really excited for a little dinner party we have coming up. The campaign is flying out a few members of this team to meet Hillary for dinner on the campaign trail. Naresh, you should be there.
Add your name before midnight for a chance to win a free trip to have dinner with Hillary:
RSVP for dinner
Thanks,
Huma
Huma Abedin
Vice Chair
Hillary for America

The UK Science & Innovation Team in India

Issue 82
Hello!Orange
Welcome to the October Edition of the UK Science and Innovation Network in India’s Newsletter. In this month’s newsletter we have highlighted the proceedings of our multicity Innovation policy workshop as well as other GPF activity which our SIN advisors have been busy organising. We also have information on funding within the Newton fund for PhD placements.
SIN Spotlight
With an aim to promote government, private sector and academia coming together  to participate in deliberations on innovation policy, innovation acceleration, university research and commercialisation- the UK Science and Innovation Network  brought together a delegation of UK experts in commercialisation of technologies and incubating Tech startups from Cambridge University, Imperial College London, Oxford University, Nesta, AcceleratorIndia and Ledmac from the UK.
Workshops where held in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Trivandrum. The aim of the workshop was to enhance understanding of innovation policy, incubation and technology commercialisation in both countries, share best practices and challenges, and seek opportunities for building institutional links between universities, companies and organisations in India and UK.   Read more
Top Stories  fund
Innovations for a clean water
Declining water quality is a global issue. At a time when the global population is growing the industrial and agricultural activities have also grown and along with the impact of climate change, clean water has become more scarce an ever before. While this is not a new phenomenon, our Senior SIN advisor Sunil Kumar had a chance to note the innovations that are being developed by researchers in UK and India. Read more.
When we think of printing most of us think about a printer and paper. However in the last couple of weeks Bangalore based SIN advisor Sunil Kumar learnt more about a different kind of printing called 3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing. This process produces complex 3D geometric parts which cannot be made by traditional manufacturing. Read more.
You might recall the UK Science and Innovation Network in India put together an excellent workshop on infectious diseases last year, where we explored various potential UK-India collaborative areas to help tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Top experts from the UK and India discussed important issues like open innovation and drug discovery;  Read more..
Reports  fund
This Review was commissioned by the British Prime Minister to recommend  a comprehensive package of actions by the summer of 2016, to tackle AMR globally. A series of papers have been published looking at individual aspects of the wider AMR problem, of which this is the fourth.
This paper published by the independent Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, focuses on the role that rapid diagnostics can play in improving how we can: i) use
antimicrobials to better treat infections; ii) slow the rise of drugresistance
by reducing the unnecessary use of antimicrobials, in particular antibiotics; and iii) ultimately change our approach to treating bacterial infections through targeted and
precise therapies. Read more…
Funding Opportunities
Want to keep up to date with all the opportunities funded through the UK’s Newton FundFollow this page on gov.uk. 
For a full list of funding opportunities, please check out our monthly summary
Upcoming Events
Innovate 2015 is a two day event designed to stimulate opportunities for innovation, export and investment for the UK’s most innovative companies, at all growth stages. With more than 3,000 visitors, from the UK and overseas, Innovate 2015 combines the strengths of Innovate UK and UKTI and offers an opportunity to meet with some of the most exciting innovative brains from around the world. The event will happen on the 90inh of November in London. SIN India’s ICT UKTI colleague, Merlin Picardo, from the British Deputy High Commission in Bengaluru (Merlin.Picardo@fco.gov.uk) will be attending. More information
Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Conference
Hotel Westin, Pune: 1st December 2015
Vivanta by Taj, Bangalore: 3rd December 2015
If you are planning a visit to India soon check out our top tips for a successful trip. Or check out our map of Indian Science & Innovation to plan your itinerary. We’ve also produced amap of the UK if you’re heading in the other direction!
News from the web news
SIN India Team News
The start of this quarter has been most interesting and most busy for the SIN India Network. We have had SIN-UKTI joint workshops as well a multicity workshops (Innovation Policy) which have been delivered successfully. Look out for our blogs and reports on these activities in our next newsletter.
Thanks for reading!
Sarah, MurtazaSwatiRitaKaranpreetSunilSheryl ,Pradeep and Supri,
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